Country Music Responds to Donald Trump’s ‘Shithole Countries’ Remarks

President Donald Trump made headlines around the world on Thursday (Jan. 11) after news reports about profane comments he allegedly made about immigrants from poorer countries, and country singers were among those who turned to social media to react.

According to multiple media reports, the president grew angry on Thursday during a meeting at which he rejected a bipartisan deal the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. He met with lawmakers about protections for immigrants from several countries, and when he became frustrated, he reportedly asked, "Why are we having all these people from shithole countries come here?"

“Why do we need more Haitians?” Trump added, according to sources who attended the meeting who spoke to the media. "Take them out." Trump also reportedly suggested the U.S. should bring in fewer people from Central American and African countries and more people from Norway.

Trump turned to Twitter on Friday (Jan. 12) to deny that he used that specific language:

Senator Dick Durbin [D-Ill.] attended the meeting, and he tells the Chicago Tribune and other local news outlets that Trump's words were reported accurately.

"In the course of his comments, [Trump] said things which were hate-filled, vile and racist," Durbin states. "I use those words advisedly. I understand how powerful they are."

"I cannot believe that in the history of the White House and of that Oval Office, any president has ever spoken the words that I personally heard our president speak yesterday," he adds. "You've seen the comments in the press. I have not read one of them that's inaccurate."

Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan called Trump's remarks "very unfortunate, unhelpful" at the WisPolitics Luncheon in Milwaukee on Friday, CNN reports. According to Time, the president's remarks drew widespread condemnation from world leaders.